The Deshaun Watson Dilemma in Fantasy Football

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson is the subject of heavy trade rumors before the 2021 NFL trade deadline. Dom analyzes the decision behind adding him in fantasy football leagues for redraft and dynasty.

We know what Deshaun Watson can do when he is on the field. Last season, he led the NFL with 4,823 passing yards. He's thrown 104 touchdowns over the better part of three and a half seasons. He has taken what looks to be a terrible team and made it into a playoff contender on many occasions.

If he is traded to a team with more talent such as the Carolina Panthers, he could produce very well for you in your leagues. This could also be the case if he ends up in a place like Miami where he could just get a fresh start despite the lack of talent upgrade. But is he worth the risk?

We must, of course, consider the despicable acts he is being accused of. Not just the moral implications for having a player who may or may not have done these things on your roster. You also need to consider what the league will do to him or his new team as a penalty if he does get traded. Will the NFL allow him to play this season, knowing the media storm which would come with allowing it? Does the NFL really want this to happen with everything else going on in the league right now? Let's weigh in on this issue, purely from a fantasy football perspective.

Fantasy Value

In his most recent season in 2020, he had a remarkable statline. Over 16 games, he completed 382 of 544 passes. This accounted for a mark of 70.2%. a number not reached by many players at the position. He used these 382 completions to amass 4,823 yards, 33 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. On top of his passing numbers and although being only two years removed from major knee surgery, Watson also ran the ball 90 times for 444 yards and three touchdowns. He is a true dual-threat quarterback.

This is the type of player at the position who could come in and make a difference right away. He will not need to build a connection with his receivers to run the ball and get you fantasy points. He will be able to build upon his rushing by adding in his passing as time goes by. This is a big advantage he would have over a player who will need to rely fully on his arm for any fantasy production.

Deshaun Watson is the only QB to finish as a top 5 QB in fantasy in both 2019 and 2020

— NFL & Fantasy Football Stats (@FFstats_) January 5, 2021

There's no doubting Watson's talent or fantasy value. The question is whether he is worth adding in fantasy leagues based on current circumstances.

Decision Time

If you are close to being a playoff contender, then the answer is far different from someone dwelling at the bottom of the rankings. For the case of someone buried in the ranks, the clear answer is no. He is probably not going to play this season and even if he does, it will not help you enough to make the playoff run you want. For the fringe playoff team or the team at the top of the ranks, it may be different.

Would I grab him? No. But I know I am not everyone. If he does return, he could be one of those late-season league winners we are so familiar with. The talent is clear with Watson, not just when he had the surroundings of DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller. But even when those players were injured or traded, he was still a top quarterback in the NFL.

What you personally feel about having Watson on your team is going to determine whether you take a chance on him. What the NFL is going to do as a penalty also has to play into your decision. We know he has the talent, and it is apparent the Dolphins, possibly the Panthers, want him. But my feeling is, it is not going to happen this season. In redraft leagues, he is merely worth a bench stash if you don't have a solid top-10 QB in place yet are somehow ahead in the standings.

In dynasty leagues, go ahead and trade for him if you get a good deal. He will be back in 2022. But 2021 is a wash. He is not going to play for the Houston Texans, and they do not want him to. The team is also asking far too much for him at this point in a trade scenario so the ability for him to be traded is also dwindling.

The final decisive point - even if he does get traded, the NFL may put him on the commissioner’s exempt list and he will be forced to sit out the remainder of the season. So, there is really no point in even adding him when the league will not let him play this season. Just like us 80s kids were taught, "Just Say No" to Watson.

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